Lap-board.



J. STONE.

LAP BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1911.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

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J. STONE.

LAP BOARD.

APPLIGATION r1221) FEB. 1, 1911.

Patented Aug. 11,1914.

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JAMES STONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAP-BOARD.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, James STONE, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLap-Boards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a lap-board designed more especially for theuse of cardplayers on railway trains and which is adapted to be rolledinto a small compass, so that it may be conveniently placed in asuit-case or satchel for transportation and at the same time may be heldflat and rigid while in use.

A lap-board embodying my invention consists generally of two layers ofcloth or other flexible material united to each other at intervals byparallel lines of stitching, or otherwise, to form a series of pockets,stiffening strips inserted in said pockets, and

forming with the flexible layers a series of stiffened sections,together with rigid extension bars connected with the end-sections ofthe board and adapted to extend transversely of the intermediatesections, in such manner as to hold the sections in the same plane witheach other and the board as a whole in a flat and extended condition.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lap-board embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same as seen from beneath.Fig. 3 is a view of the board when rolled up for transportation.

Fig. f is a plan view of the board from be- B, of flexible material,such as cloth, leather Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. February 1, 1911.

Patented Aug. 111, 191%..

Serial No. 605,860.

or oil-cloth, joined to each other at intervals, by means oftransversely extending parallel lines of stitching a, to form aplurality of transversely extending, parallel pockets in which areinserted stiffening strips C, C. Said stiffening strips may be of anysuitable material, but for lightness of weight they preferably consistof fiberboard or vulcanized fiber. The two layers of fabric, with thestifiening strips between them, thus arranged and connected, constitutein efi'ect a series of flexibly connected, transversely extendingparallel, stiffened sections adapted to permit the board to be rolled upendwise into a small compass. The pockets are preferably so formed, asshown in the sectional views, Figs. 5 and 6, that the top flexible layerA will be flat or level when the board is extended and in use, thisconstruction afiording a smooth top surface which makes the lap-boardmore available for the use of card-players. In this construction, forobvious reasons, the board will be rolled with the top layer A inwardly.

As a desirable feature of construction, I have shown the flexible layersA and B as extending at their margins outside of the lines of stitchingwhich extend around the margins of the board, and also as provided withserrated or notched, flexible edges, in order that the board'may be moreeasily rolled up.

Devices are provided for holding the several sections in the same planewith each other and keeping the board extended when in use, as follows:Secured to the under surface of the end stiffening strips or sectionsare metal strips D D Said strips are preferably secured to the endsections by rivets extending through both parts, as shown in thedrawings. To one of the intermediate sections, preferably midway betweenthe ends of the board, is similarly secured a third metal strip D To theends of the strip D are pivotally connected two extension bars E E Thepivots connecting these parts are so arranged as to enable said bars tobe folded inwardly, parallel with the strip 1) and in parallel andoverlapping relation other bar, E beneath the same when the parts areina folded position. The metal strip D 'at the opposite end of the boardis provided with like bars F F pivoted thereto in the same manner asdescribed in connection with the bars E E The bars E E F and F are madeof a length not greater than the width of. the board and approximatelyone-half of the length thereof so that when placed in position at rightangles to the metalstrips D D they will overlap each othenat theirmeeting ends and also overlap the intermediate metal stripv Dandwhen'placedi in position parallel to the said metal strips D D theywill overlap each other-and will lie entirely within the width of the.board. Devices are provided by which the ends of the bars EI and F atone side of the board, and the bars E and F at the opposite; side of theboard, may be rigidly joined or interlockcd with, each other in a mannerto stretch the board endwiseand keep it flat. As a convenientconstruction, the saidbars. are-also adapted to have interlockingengagement with:the ends of thestripiD Devicesfor these purposes, asshown in the drawings, consist of headed studs G. G secured-in theopposite ends of the-metal stripD andieX-- tending downwardly therefrom;and transverse slotse, f in the. bars (Figs. 2. and 4) adapted. toreceivethe shanksof said studs. The position of the partswl1enithe-lap-boardi is flat on extended is shown. in Fig. 2, the

barsE E v and. F F at this time being. at

right angles tothe strips, D D and extending. transversely oftheflexibly connected sections of the board,.while themeeting ends of thebars have interlocking COIlIlGOtlOIIt with each other and alsopreferably with; the intermediate strip" D in: a; manner to. keepthebody of the board in an extended position, and. hold. it. flat. WVhen itis desired to roll up the board, said bars E E F F are folded against orupon the strips D D and owing totheir length being not greater than. thewidth of'the board thesaid bars will overlap each other and lie entirelywithin the width of. the board, so. that the ends thereof will notproject beyond. the sides of the same, as shownin Fig. hand, all the.parts then. being parallel to. each other,.the board. may be rolledupinto a. compact. nearly cylindrical. roll. with all: of the. said barswholly concealed within the. compact roll, as seen in Fig. 3 Thearrangement of the flexibly joined sections transversely of the boardand. inconnection with distendingmembersmade of a lengthnot greater;than that of. said sections and pivoted in.- pairs, to the end sectionsof the. board, 7 as described, makes. it .possible to roll? thelap-board up endwise, with thebarscoircealed therein,. and. thus. form.a. compact roll. of. a. length. which will. fiteasily within:

an ordinary suitcase or. satchel;

In case it bBLClESlIQdiO. provide. extension:

e5 bars. in. addition. to those. attheside margins;

of the board, the construction shown in the drawings may be employed, asfollows: H H (Figs. 2, 6, 8 and 9) are two bars, each of which isadaptedfor detachable connection with one of the strips D D Said barsare also adapted for interlocking connection at their meeting ends. Asillustrated the bar H is provided with a stud it, having at its end alateral projection h and said stud h is adapted to engage a hole orsocket d in the metal strip D. Similarly, the bar H is provided with alike hooked stud 71. adapted for engagement witha hole (Z in the strip DIn this instance, the intermediate strip D is provided centrally betweenits ends with a fixed stud (Z2, and the meeting ends of the bars H H areprovidedwith transverse slots 72, h? adapted to receive the shank of:the stud (Z when the=parts are in their interlocked positions; The barsH; and H are thus adapted for detachable connection with the studs D andD while at the .same time serving as additional stiffening members tohold the board flat .and distended.- It will of course be understoodthat the. intermediate bars H H will be entirely de- .tached from the.board preparatoryto the ;-rolling up of the same, and may be easilycarried by inserting the sameinside of the body of the board when thelatter is rolled. .for transportation.

It will be understood that the accompanying drawings illustrate onlyone. form of the lapeboardr embodying. my invention and that in.carrying out the invention-various :modifications may be made in thedetails 10f construction. I: do not, therefore, desire to be limited tothe particular features and details of construction shown in the drawingsexcept so far as the same may be spe- 105 ,cifically set. forth in:the appended'claims as parts ofmy invention.

I claimlas my invention 1. A lap-boardcomprising an upper and a. lowerlayer of flexible fabric, the upper 110 layer being adapted to lie in aplane when the board is distended to providea smooth, .fiat top. surfacetherefor,.andithe lower layer being unitedtothe upper layer alongtransversely extending; parallel lines toformza 115 series of: parallel,transversely extending pockets ;.the.part,of the lower layer. formingeach pocket being: wider than the corresponding. part of the. upperlayer,.stiifening strips inserted! in. saidpockets and forming .120.with the fabric, aiseries of flexiblyconnected,

longitudinally extending stiffened. members, metal strips,.1ocat.ed.one. at each. end of-the hoard, saidmetalzstrips being secured to theunder. sides of: the end: sections or. stiffened I25 I membersthereof,and two. pairs. of. distending bars, one pair at each end ofthe board};the bars. of each pair beingpivotally con- ;nected each at. one; endwith. one. end} of .the associated metal. strip; said bars being no.1350

greater in length than the Width of the board and approximately one-halfof the length of the same; the bars of each pair, when in non-operativeposition, overlapping each other and extending transversely of theboard, and, when distended, extending lengthwise of the board with theirfree ends overlapping each other, and means for detachably connectingwith each other the free ends of said bars, embracing studs on one of]the intermediate sections or stiffened memers.

2. A lap-board comprising an upper and a lower layer of flexible fabric,the upper layer being adapted to lie in a plane when the board isdistended to provide a smooth, fiat top surface therefor, and the lowerlayer being united to the upper layer along transversely extendingparallel lines to form a series of parallel, transversely extendingpockets; the part of the lower layer forming each pocket being widerthan the corresponding part of the upper layer, stiffening stripsinserted in said pockets and forming with the fabric a series offlexibly connected, longitudinally extending stifiened members, metalstrips, located one at each end of the board, said metal strips beingsecured to the under sides of the end sections or stiffened membersthereof, an intermediate metal strip secured to the under side of one ofthe intermediate sections or stiffened members of the board, and twopairs of distending bars, one pair at each end of the board; the bars ofeach pair being pivotally connected at one end with one end of theassociated metal strip; said bars being no greater in length than thewidth of the board and approximately one-half of the length of the same;the bars of each pair, when in nonoperative position, overlapping eachother and ex tending transversely of the board, and, when distended,extending lengthwise of the board with their free ends overlapping eachother; the ends of said intermediate bar and the free ends of thedistending bars being provided with interlocking, detachable connectingdevices.

In testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this th day of January A. D.1911.

JAMES STONE. Witnesses GEORGE R. VVILKINs, T. H. ALFREDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G.

